A new Korean dining experience opens
In Korean, “Sogeum” means salt and Sogeum by Soban believes that the essence of great Korean cuisine begins with this ingredient. The newly opened Sogeum by Soban in the new Opus Mall celebrates this powerful ingredient by weaving it into every dish with intention and respect.
Sogeum by Soban is the fifth restaurant concept brought to life by award-winning Korean restaurateur, Mr. Sung Rah and his Philippine partner, the Happyfoods Group of Restaurants.
Happyfoods Group of Restaurants helmed by Diana Tan David, Donna Tan Ng and Dotz Tan Dee is a Filipino-owned company behind some of the country’s most beloved Korean dining concepts. Since its founding in 2012, their portfolio includes brands such as Sariwon Korean Barbecue, Soban K-Town Grill, Sibyullee Unlimited Korean BBQ, and Samsam Chikin Korean Café + Kitchen.
This new Korean restaurant specializes in Bo Ssam, succulent, delicately seasoned slices of boiled pork served with musaengchae (radish kimchi), Napa kimchi, crisp lettuce and cabbage wraps, and house-made saeujeot crafted from fermented baby shrimp. This is like a Korean bagoong, which I found not as salty as ours and I loved it! Their Bo Ssam is made with premium European pork simmered with aromatics including Korean soju and fermented soybean paste, resulting in tender, flavorful meat. Another dish I enjoyed was the Mul Galbi that features a fresh, US beef, nestled on a bed of 11 kinds of fresh vegetables with mushrooms, flat glass noodles and Korean rice cakes, all simmered together in a savory, aromatic broth. Its broth is made from beef marrow bones slow-boiled for over six hours until the rich, fatty marrow melts into a flavorful collagen-rich broth. This special dish is served with a tangy dipping sauce to complement the beef. I also enjoyed their Haemul Pajeon or savory seafood pancake and Dak Ganjeong or fried chicken glazed in a caramelized sauce.
Guests who like tableside grilling (they have excellent exhaust per table so no need to worry) can enjoy their beef and pork cuts, including Saeng Galbisal, USDA High Choice boneless beef short ribs and six distinct flavors of Pork Samgyupsal. These can be used with their accompanying sauces or their signature Salt Trio: Cheon Ilyeom (thousand-day aged sea salt), Nokcha Sogeum (green tea salt), and Himalayan Pink Salt.
Sogeum by Soban brings a finer taste of Korea to Opus, offering a refined interior that’s stylish yet relaxed, perfect for everyday dining. For those seeking a more intimate dining experience, a private room accommodating up to 12 guests is also available. This place is a perfect venue for lunch or dinner.
(Visit them on the 2nd Floor of Opus, Bridgetowne Destination Estate, Opus, Bridgetowne Boulevard corner C-5, Quezon City. Call (0927) 069 2957 For reservations or inquiries. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @sogeumbysoban and tiktok at @sogeumbysoban.)
Dear Evan Hansen until October 5
GMG Productions announced today the extension of the critically acclaimed, Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen in Manila. The production at The Theatre at Solaire will run from Septz 4 to Oct. 5, 2025. This is one of my favorite modern musicals that I can watch over and over again. GMG Productions’ CEO Carlos Candal shared, “Bringing Dear Evan Hansen to Manila has been a long-awaited moment, and the response has been everything we hoped for and more. We’re happy to announce this final extension so even more audiences can experience the impact of this production.”
Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of Evan, an anxious high school student longing for a sense of belonging. When a misunderstanding spirals into something far bigger than he ever imagined, he faces an impossible decision: tell the truth and lose everything or embrace a lie that brings him closer to the life he has always dreamed of.
Featuring music by the Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Oscar-winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Steven Levenson, Dear Evan Hansen has won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Director Adam Penford also shares, “Dear Evan Hansen has thrilled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic since it first premiered in 2016. Evan’s powerful story grips and moves people told through a captivating script and musical score. This exciting UK and International tour production offers the opportunity to reexamine some of its contemporary themes and present this brand-new version to more people.”
The Manila season of Dear Evan Hansen is presented by GMG Productions, with UnionBank of the Philippines as official 2025 season bank sponsor. Tickets are available at Ticketworld.com. Visit www.gmg-productions.com. *
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